Breech actuating and control system



w. 29, l i.

H. F. VICKERS BREECH ACTUAT ING AND CONTROL SYSTEM Fild Dec. 12, 1955 IN VENTOR.

Patented Oct. 29, 1946 rmnon ACTUATING AND CONTROL SYSTEM Harry F. Vickers, Detroit, Mich, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Vickers, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application December 12, 1935, Serial No. 54,026

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a breech actuating and control system and has to do particularly with a novel control and actuating circuit for the breech mechanism of a gun mount.

The present invention contemplates the pro-'' vision and connecting up of hydraulic actuating and control mechanism for moving the breech mechanism to and from firing position and for ejecting the cartridge case, in combination with means actuated by the recoil of the gun for supplying motive power to said actuating and control mechanism.

Another feature of the invention has to do with a compound hook-up and control circuit, includ-. ing a breech mechanism actuating and control circuit, an accumulator circuit controlled by the recoil of the gun, and a return or tank circuit, whereby motive power is normally supplied through a compact circuit and accumulating means by the recoil of the gun, and which motive power may, in an emergency, be supplied from either one of two sources. Other features of this compound hook-up, resulting in a compact actuating and control circuit with a main positive and auxiliary sources of pressure supply, will be more clearly brought out in the specification and claims.

The accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view of a breech actuating and control mechanism embodying the present invention and showing in particular the compound circuit hook-up including a plurality of means for furnishing fluid pressure.

It will be understood that the present invention relates generally to the storing up of power incident to the recoil of a gun, and the manner of storing up of such power and applying the same to actuate and control the breech loading and unloading mechanism; the hydraulic actuating and controlling means utilized in this system may be of any standard design and for this reason are shown diagrammatically.

In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the rear end of the gun mount or breech is generally designated 2, the ejector unit for the cartridge 3 being diagrammatically shown as at 4 and the breech block as at 5. A chain type rammer unit for moving the charge into position is shown in dotted lines and is generally designated 6; this rammer unit would normally be positioned closely adjacent the breech of the gun so that the rammer unit-I as shown in solid lines would be posione or the other of two conduits 20 and 2!.

clearer, and because the rammer unit per se forms no part of the present invention.

An oil reservoir is diagrammatically shown as at B and is connected through a check valve 9 and a conduit ID to a charging cylinder II; this charging cylinder in turn is connected through an extension of-the conduit III, a check valve I2, and conduit I3, with an accumulator I4. A piston I5 forming a part of the charging cylinder I I is pivotally connected to the gun mount as at I6, whereby recoil of the gun will force any liquid in the cylinder II through the conduit IIJ, check valve I2 and into the accumulator I4, and a return movement of the piston I5 will draw up oil from the reservoir 8 past the check valve 9 and into the cylinder I I. Any leakage past the piston II is returned through the conduit I! to the reservoir 8. a

A conventional pilot control valve is shown as at I8 and connects the pressure conduit I9 with The conduit'ZIl is connected to the upper end of a breech block cylinder 22 and by means of branch conduit 23 is also connected to an extractor operating valve 24 and through a check valve 25 and conduit 26 to one end of an ejector cylinder 21. The other end of the ejector cylinderll is connected through a conduit 28 with the conduit 2| and also by means of auxiliary conduits with the operating valve 24 and to the bottom end of cylinder 22. In the position of the control valve I8, as shown in the drawing, the conduits 2D and 2| are connected through a return conduit 29 with the reservoir 8.

Power required for initially building up pressure in the accumulator I4 may be supplied from electric motor 30 and pump 3I circulating liquid from tank 32, which tank for the purpose of clarity only is shown separate from tank 8. This motor and pump unit need only be of such small size as to take career the charging of accumulator I4 and the emergency requirements for the rammer unit 6, and thus may be reduced in size and power to a minimum. In place of time and pressure controls I'have shown a single connectionbetween the pump 3I and accumulator I4 as by means of a conduit, throttle I valve 35 and check valve 36. An emergency con- 'ne'ction is made between the reservoir 8 and accumulator I4 by means of a hand operated 1 pump 31', through conduit 38, conduit 39 and tioned adjacent the breech of the gun; the rammer unit is shown positioned away from the breech to make the diagrammatic illustration" check valves 4!] and 4|. h

In operation, with the partsin the position as ,shown in the drawing, the firing pin in the breech. block 5 maybe fired in the usual manner.

and to the cylinders 22 and 21. is preferably inserted between the conduit and vihws rr and-the sp in o sa drelie i .75.,

lower the breech block 5, the control valve i8 is moved to open position, or down, as viewed in the drawing, admitting pressure from the accumulator I4, through conduit I9 and into conduitZO, to the upper end of the breech block operating cylinder 22, moving the breech block down. At the end of its downward stroke, the breech block 4 valve is so set as to open the conduit ID to the tank when the liquid in the accumulator l4 reaches a predetermined pressure.

In the event of the failure of the recharging cylinder II, it will be seen that if the throttle valve 35 is partially open, after the initial chargingastep the-pump 3| will supply a limited amount of pressure to the accumulator l4, and in any event this pressure supplied by the pump 3! will supply sufiicient pressure to actuate the motor and control unit 33 to cause actuation of the rammer unit 6.

It will also be obvious that the throttle 35 may be moved to wide open posicontacts with the member 2412 of the extractor valve 24, and moves the valve against the action of a spring 42, whereby to connect the pressure line 23 with the conduit 26 and the operating end of the ejector cylinder 21. Movement of the piston within the ejector cylinder 2'! causes the empty cartridge 3 to be ejected.

Return of the lever 43 and valve l8 to neutral position, or the position shown in the drawing,

opens both lines 29 and 2| to the reservoir 8. This action automatically vents both ends of the operating cylinder 22 and allows a buffer spring ment of the valve l8 to neutral position also vents both ends of the extractor cylinder 21, and the piston in cylinder 21 is returned to the position shown in the drawing by means of aspring 46, the oil in the actuating end of the cylinder 21 returning through check valve 25 to the tank and to the rod end of cylinder 21. 1

After the ramming of another projectile and cartridge into the gun, the breech block 5 will be raised to firing position by raising the lever 43 and admitting the pressure through the conduit 2| to the lower end of the cylinder 22. When the breech block is fully raised, it may be locked in position by the usual bolt means (not shown) afterwards the control valve l8 may be moved to neutral position, again venting both ends of the: breech block operating cylinder 22. I V v An important feature of the present invention is the fact that with each recoil of the gun 2, the piston 95 will recharge the-accumulator l4 and thus during any continued-firing action the main. 1

source of power will be furnished by the accumulator M to continuously actuate the breech block,.ejector and rammer mechanism. While,

of course, the recharging cylinder I l and the any capacity desired, corresponding to the capacity of the accumulator l4 and the efiective size of the cylinders 22 and 21, and the motor and control unit 33. 1 I

Fluid pressure for operating the rammer motor andcontrol unit 33 is supplied from theaccumulator I4 through the conduit 19 and the auxiliary conduit l9a. inserted in the system as shown to control the maximum flow of actuatingv liquid to the motor 33 Arelief valve Throttle valves 48 and 49 may be,v

tion to supply pressure equal to the full capacity of the pump 3| so that all the parts of the entire system maybe operated at a speed equal to the combined capacity of the accumulator l4 and the pump 3 I. It will also be apparent that the entire capacity of the pump 3! may be utilized in actuating the rammer 6, by closing the throttles 35 ,and, 49; and in which event, the hand pump 31 can be utilized for supplying fluid pressure to the cylinders 22 and- 21. In the event of failure of both the cylinder H and the pump 3|, pressure may be supplied to the accumulator by the hand operated pump 31, in which event the pressure supplied to the accumulator by the pump 31 could be used in operating the units of the entire system, or used in operating the rammer unit or the breech block and ejector units as desired.

It will thus be seen by this simple, compound system that complete hydraulic actuating and control may be obtained with actuating and control units reduced in weight and size to a minimum, that the charging of the rammer, breech block and ejector actuating-control system is normally automatic in that the main source of power is supplied by the recoil of the gun, and that the entire system is practically breakdown proof by the compounding of the threecircuits.

What I claim is:

1. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising a hydraulic motor for actuating a rammer, hydraulic motors for respectively actuating a breech block and ejector, a hydraulic pressure accumulator connected to, and adapted to accumulate liquid under pressure for actuating said motors, a pump to be actuated by the recoil of the gun for charging the accumulator with liquid under pressure, a manually operated control valve interposed in hydraulic connection between said accumulator and breech block and ejector motors and adapted to direct liquid under pressure to said motors, and a control valve operated by the movement of said breech block to direct pressure to said ejector motor to cause the ejecting movement of said ejector.

2. In a gun having a breech and breech block and rammer, a gun breach actuating and control system comprising a hydraulic motor for actuating said rammer, an ejector including an automatic spring return therefor, hydraulic motors for respectively actuating a breech block and said ejector, said hydraulic pressure accumulator connected to, and adapted to accumulate liquid under pressure for actuating said motors, a manually operated control valve interposed in hydraulic connection between said accumulator and breech block and ejector motors and adapted to direct liquid under pressure to said'motors, a control valve operated by the movement of the'breech .block after it reaches the end of its normal stroke to direct pressure to said ejector motor to cause the actuation of the ejector only when said breechblookfis away from the breech, and means to return said last named valve to normal position to allow said ejector to return to initial ejecting position while the breech block is still at the end of its normal stroke.

3. In a gun having a breech and breech block and rammer, a gun breech actuating and control system comprising a hydraulic motor for actuating said rammer, an ejector, hydraulic motors for respectively actuating said breech block and said ejector, a hydraulic pressure accumulator connected to, and adapted to accumulate liquid under pressure for actuating said motors, a manually operated control valve interposed in bydraulic connection between said accumulator and breech block and ejector motors and adapted to direct liquid under pressure to said motors, a control valve operated by the movement of the breech block away from the breech and after it has reached the end of its normal stroke to direct pressure to said ejector motor to cause the actuation of the e ector only when said breech block is away from the breech, and a power driven pump connected both to said motors and accumulator for initially charging the accumulator and actuating the motors in the event of failure of said accumulator.

4. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising a breech block and ejector and hydraulic motors for actuating same, a source of fluid pressure, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to said breech block motor for lowering the breech block, a control valve for said ejector motor actuated by the movement of the breech block away from the breech and after it has reached the end of its normal stroke to direct fluid pressure to said ejector motor, and means responsive to the relief of pressure in the breech motor for automatically returning said last named valve to a position such as to relieve the pressure in the ejector motor and permit return of the ejector to initial position while the breech block is still away from the breech.

5. In a gun having a breech and breech block and rammer, a gun breech actuating and control system comprising a hydraulic motor for actuating said rammer, an ejector, hydraulic motors for respectively actuating said breech block and said ejector, a hydraulic pressure accumulator connected to, and adapted to accumulate liquid under pressure for actuating said motors, a manually operated control valve interposed in hydraulic connection between said accumulator and breech block and ejector motors and adapted to direct liquid under pressure to said motors, a control valve operated by the movement of the breech and after it has reached the end of its normal stroke block away from the breech to direct pressure to said ejector motor to cause the actuation of the ejector only when said breech block is away from the breech, and a plurality of power charging devices for said accumulator including a power driven pump connected both to said motors and accumulator for initially charging the accumulator and actuating the motors in the event of failure of said accumulator.

6. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising hydraulically operated motors for actuating a rammer, breech block and ejector, a hydraulic circuit for said system including control valves and an accumulator, an oil reservoir, and a recharging piston and cylinder structure having one portion connected to the gun and another portion movable relative thereto, conduits leading from said cylinder to said oil reservoir and accumulator, check valves in said conduits, the piston and cylinder and check valve arrangement being such that the actuation of said recharging piston and cylinder by the retraction of the gun fills the cylinder and the recoil of the gun furnishes fluid under pressure to said accumulator, one of said control valves being interposed between said accumulator and said hydraulic motors for directing liquid under pressure thereto, and another control valve operated by the movement of said breech block to direct pressure to said ejector motor to cause the ejecting movement of said ejector.

7. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising hydraulic piston and cylinder structure for actuating the breech block and ejector, a hydraulic circuit for controlling and actuating said piston and cylinder structure including control valves and an accumulator, an oil reservoir, and a recharging piston and cylinder structure connected to the gun and to said. oil reservoir and accumulator, said connections being such that the recharging cylinder structure is filled by the retraction of the gun, a rammer circuit including a pump, a conduit connecting said pump to said accumulator whereby the accumulator may be charged by the recharging piston and cylinder or by the pump, or both, and means positioned between the accumulator and said piston and cylinder structure for controlling the maximum flow of actuating liquid thereto.

8. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising a breech block and ejector and hydraulic motors for actuating same, a sourceof fluid pressure, valve means for controlling the flow of fluid pressure to said breech block motor for moving the same away from the breech, a control valve for said ejector motor so positioned as to be actuated by the breech block after it has reached the end of its normal stroke, and means responsive to the relief of pressure in the breech motor for moving the breech motor piston a short distance and sufficient to release said last named valve and permit return of said valve to its normal position.

9. A gun breech actuating and control system comprising hydraulic motors for actuating a rammer, breech block and ejector, a hydraulic circuit for said system including control valves and an accumulator, an oil reservoir, and a recharging piston and cylinder structure connected to the gun and to said oil reservoir and accumulator, the actuation of said recharging piston and cylinder by the retraction of the gun filling the cylinder and by the recoil of the gun furnishing the main source of fluid under pressure to said ac umulator, said hydraulic circuit including a rammer circuit having a relatively small pump, said rammer circuit being connected to said accumulator through a valve for charging said accumulator and supplying pressure thereto in an emergency, a hand operated pump .connected to said accumulator for charging said accumulator and supplying pressure thereto in an emergency, one of said control Valves being interposed between said accumulator and said hydraulic motors for directing liquid under pressure thereto, and another control valve operated by the movement of said breech block to d rect pressure to said ejector motor to cause the e ecting movement of said ejector.

HARRY F. VICKERS. 

